B’nai B’rith condemns the reprehensible bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, near Nigeria’s capital, on Christmas Day.

Following the horrific attack, B’nai B’rith sent a letter to Professor Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, the Nigerian ambassador in Washington, D.C., saying: “We write to express our strongest condemnation of the vicious terrorist attacks on Sunday that killed at least 40 people and injured many more. We are especially horrified by the perpetrators’ decision to intentionally target Christian worshippers on Christmas…It eludes our understanding how any group assuming the mantle of religion can take pride in the barbaric and indiscriminate slaughter of innocent human beings.”

The letter continued: “Clearly, terrorism remains an acute challenge globally. At this difficult time, we offer the people of Nigeria our solidarity. Please convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this week’s attacks, and our prayerful wishes for the recovery of the wounded.”

This attack, for which the terrorist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility, follows another bombing that day in the central Nigerian city of Jos and a suicide car bombing on the military in Nigeria’s northeast. Similar bombings also occurred in Jos on Christmas Eve last year and at the U.N. headquarters in Abuja this August.

“We are appalled by this grievous bloodshed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria,” said Allan J. Jacobs, B’nai B’rith International president.

“These attacks and others by similar terrorist groups are a threat to the region and to the world. We call upon the international community to remain vigilant and to condemn in the strongest terms such acts of violence,” said B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin.